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TRAILBLAZERFALL ISSUE 2019 Supporting Oregon Ridge

Nature Center since 1982

BIRDS OF MARYLANDby Middleton Evans, Photographer

SEPTEMBER 167:00 PM, FREE, Auditorium

Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council, 410-887-1815; www.OregonRidgeNatureCenter.org; TDD/Deaf 410-887-5319

Middleton Evans has a personal relationship with Oregon Ridge. He has been a recurrent presenter in our Speaker Series, talking about his amazing photographic images, including those of Oregon Ridge’s pristine forest and its inhabitants that have appeared in his books. Now he returns to talk about a new book from JHU Press that features his astounding photography, along with insightful commentary by renown Smithsonian ornithologist Bruce Beehler: Birds of Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia.

This 400+ page book will thrill birders of all levels, from novice backyard birdwatchers to habitual birders with enviable life lists. Middleton will share stories about his journey creating this book and about each captivating image of Maryland’s common and rare birds, including a pair of

brown boobies that dropped in for a brief stay in Baltimore’s harbor in 2015. You might even learn about the best places to see these feathered treasures for yourself. Middleton Evans is a photographer, author and publisher of Maryland themed books and calendars. A Baltimore native, he has dedicated much of his 30-year career to documenting Maryland’s diverse cultural life and natural heritage. In 2001, he was featured in Maryland Public Television’s documentary “Images of Maryland: 1900-2000,” honoring the state’s distinguished lensmen. In 2006, Evans released Rhapsody in Blue, which featured images collected during a 5-year odyssey discovering waterbirds in pristine habitats across North America. Another book, The Miracle Pond (2015), captures a bevy of avian beauties from Baltimore’s Patterson Park.

HONEY HARVEST FESTIVALFree Admission!

Some Activities Require a fee.

Saturday 10/5Sunday 10/6

11 to 4

COME AND MEET AMERICAN HONEY PRINCESS NICOLE MEDINA

SPECIAL EVENTS AND SPECIAL SPEAKERS

The American Honey Princess, Nicole Medina, will be greeting visitors at our 2019 Honey Harvest Festival and talking about the importance of honeybees in Maryland. Nicole is from Green Township, New Jersey. She is a sophomore at Sussex County Community College studying Business Administration. She has been keeping her own hives for five years, and is an active volunteer for the Sussex County Beekeeping Association.

Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council’s Trailblazer | Fall 2019Page 2

ENJOY-

Fun Crafts

Live Music

Puppet Shows

Honey Extraction

Animal Encounters

Apple Cider Pressing

Civil War Reenactments

Haystack Treasure Hunts

S'mores around a Campfire

Food! Food! And More Food!

Blacksmithing Demonstrations

Wool Spinning Demonstrations

Honey Ice Cream Churning Demos

Honey Extraction and Open Hive Demos by Ms. Nicole Medina, the 2019 American Honey Princess

COMING UP IN THE 2019-20 SPEAKER SCHEDULE

Presentations are free and begin at 7 in the ORNC Auditorium. If you can recommend or wish to be a speaker, please contact the Nature Center.

January 20 - Dr. John Aucott, The Facts about Lyme’s Disease and How to Avoid ItMarch 16 - Joan Maloof, Old Growth Forest NetworkApril 20 - Anthony Fredericks, Secret Life of Clams

May 18 - Ray Bosmans, Reptiles, Turtles and Amphibians in Your Backyard (The May program is tentative at this printing)

Charlie Conklin lives what he preaches. He advises Baby Boomers to embrace aging as another opportunity to take a stand to protect our planet’s vital resources, never forgetting the promises made in our youth to make the world a better place. Charlie Conklin does it by planting trees and other activities through volunteers of the GVC Land, Education and Restoration in its 30 years of operation.

Charlie Conklin, now 82, has overseen efforts to plant thousands of trees on hundreds of acres of Gunpowder watershed. He will share his journey to live each day contributing to a healthier world for future generations. He will solicit active discussion to help listeners understand how our earthly actions negatively impact future generations. He will give a brief history of the environmental

movement, identify our regional and local challenges, and talk about the opportunities to turn the tide – ACTIVE HOPE!

Charlie Conklin retired from Bethlehem Steel Company, Sparrows Point, after serving 37 years in management. He’s been associated with GVC since 1990, past board president and now VP of Operations; chairman of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program advisory council of the Baltimore County Dept. of Aging; past chairman of the board of the Alliance of the Chesapeake Bay; past trustee of the Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake. He is a hiker, biker, kayaker and forest bather to name a few of his pleasure activities. His primary interests lie in restoring God’s Creation for future generations. His motto is, “We did not inherit Mother Earth from our ancestors, we borrowed it for our children, grandchildren, and beyond.”

Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council’s Trailblazer | Fall 2019 Page 3

HONEY HARVEST FESTIVAL

ORNC COUNCIL SPEAKER SERIES

Pam Spencer has released over 5000 monarch butterflies, putting her at the head of the class of Marylanders who have joined the international effort to protect this near-threatened species. When someone wants to start a monarch waystation or learn how to raise monarch caterpillars, they call Pam Spencer for advice. She is always willing to give it. Pam sees monarchs as a healing force and is eager to share her knowledge and experience.

Pam Spencer will explain how her passion for monarchs began and what she has learned from her unique experience raising, releasing, and tagging them. Her colorful Prezi presentation is full of photos and video of her adventures with monarchs. The program also contains education about the many theories on why monarchs are at risk and ways we can help them, including information about beneficial plants to add to our own gardens.

Pam Spencer is a Master Gardener and pollinator enthusiast. She lives in Monkton with her husband Steve, who is a Master Naturalist. For several years, she has studied, raised and tagged monarchs for the annual migration to their forest sanctuaries in Mexico. Over 1000 youth and adults have had the opportunity to participate in Citizen Science by tagging a monarch butterfly with Pam’s guidance; and to date, at least four of the tagged butterflies have been officially recorded in Mexico. Pam’s main focus is on creating lush habitats for pollinators, which include both host plants and nectar sources that bloom all season long. Pam is also a registered nurse and beekeeper.

MONARCH BUTTERFLIESby Pam Spencer, Pollinator Enthusiast

November 18, 7:00 PM, FREE

RESTORING CREATIONby Charlie Conklin, VP Operations, Gunpowder Valley Conservancy (GVC)

October 21, 7:00 PM, FREE

Page 4 Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council’s Trailblazer | Fall 2019

ORNC COuNCIL ANNuAL REPORT 2018-2019By President Mark Gingerich

The past year saw many successful initiatives by the Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council. We commissioned a study on the condition of the trail system at Oregon Ridge, and the trails consultant has produced a detailed report with recommendations on a variety of steps that can be taken to improve the sustainability and safety of our trails. This work is kicking off with a renovation of Turtle Island, the scenic oasis in the lake that can be reached by a boardwalk. The Turtle Island renovation is being funded by a generous grant from the Martin Marietta Texas Quarry. We plan to rollout further phases of trail repair and upgrade over the next year.

The fundraising committee created the first-ever ORNCC Calendar featuring spectacular photographs taken entirely at Oregon Ridge. We hope that this will become an annual tradition and believe it is sure to become a popular holiday gift idea.

Our largest annual events were once again a great success with near-record crowds attending the Honey Harvest Festival in October and the Pancake Breakfast in March. These special events, which include Maple Sugar Weekends and Music in the Woods, provide a great opportunity to bring the Oregon Ridge community together and are only possible through the tremendous dedication of the many volunteers who donate their time and resources to make each year better than the last.

The Council also sponsors a college scholarship program, which awards scholarships to outstanding students who are pursuing a degree in environmental studies. This year, we awarded $20,000 in scholarship funds to three students from local high schools to help them pursue their education and ultimately contribute to our mission of environmental stewardship. We appreciate the people who have donated to the scholarship fund to make this opportunity possible.

The mission of Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council is to contribute to the educational mission of the Nature Center by providing “educational programs and exhibits regarding natural history and conservation for all members of the public.” The Council may also “coordinate Council programs with those of public, charitable, and private organizations having to do with natural history and conservation.” With that mission in mind, we continue to advocate supporting the preservation of the park as an irreplaceable resource for the public to engage with nature and learn more about our local natural environment.

We are here to support the Nature Center staff with resources to make their jobs easier and their impact greater. Your support of the Council makes all these efforts possible. Thank you.

Respectfully,

Mark Gingerich, PresidentOregon Ridge Nature Center

Page 5Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council’s Trailblazer | Fall 2019

For the 25th consecutive year, the ORNC Council has awarded scholarships to graduating seniors who demonstrate academic excellence and plan to pursue environmental studies in college. Three scholarships totaling $20,000 have been awarded.

John Proefrock, a graduate of Dulaney High School, has been awarded $9,000 to study marine science and biology at the University of Miami. He has volunteered at the National Aquarium in Baltimore as a certified exhibit guide for the past four years for a total of 160 hours/year. Additionally, John completed a summer course in tropical marine biology at the University of Miami before his senior year. His future goal is to become a research scientist studying aquatic ecosystems and ultimately to assist in the recovery of the Chesapeake Bay.

Rebecca Lane, who is a graduate of Loch Raven High School, has been awarded $4,000 to pursue environmental studies at Gettysburg College. She was a member of her school’s Ecology Club and served as a Naturalist Intern with the Oregon Ridge Nature Center this past year. Rebecca is passionate about nature education and envisions a possible career in policy/law-making, most likely at the local level.

THREE CHEERS FOR OuR 2019 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS!By Polly Roberts, MD, Scholarship Chairperson

To John, Rebecca and alexandRa, oUR 2019 scholaRship winneRs, we say . . .

Alexandra Mantilla, a graduate of The Park School, has received $7,000 to pursue plant science at Cornell University. For the past four summers she has participated in the International Student-Led Arctic Monitoring and Research expeditions to the arctic region, where she researched non-invasive methods of tracking polar bear populations; collected active layer of thickness measurements, vegetation data, and soil samples; and studied the microbial communities of the Hudson Bay lowlands. Her ideal career would be working for a global non-profit organization to help diverse communities with farming.

John Proefrock (Upper Left Photo)

Rebecca Lane (Upper Right Photo)

Alexandra Mantilla, (Lower Photo)

The ORNC Council is proud of its Scholarship Committee, chaired by Dr. Polly Roberts. We are grateful to those who generously donate to this program. If you wish to donate, please contact ORNC. If you know of a student who is seeking a scholarship in 2020, please contact their high school to make sure they receive the ORNC Council Scholarship Application Form.

TRAILBLAZER STAFF

Editor/Design/Layout: Mary Jane Shanks

CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE Writers: Mark Gingerich Jessica Jeannetta, Elizabeth Kadow, Polly Roberts, Mary Jane Shanks Photographers: Jocelyn Curtis, Karen Jackson, ORNC Staff

OREGON RIDGE NATURE CENTER13555 Beaver Dam Road, Cockeysville 21030

410-887-1815 info@OregonRidgeNatureCenter.org www.OregonRidgeNatureCenter.org

Articles/Photos for Winter issue due 11/1/2019

Page 6 Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council’s Trailblazer | Fall 2019

RIDGE RUNNER LARK ANDERSON IS A NATURAL Lark Anderson joined the Ridge Runner team in March 2018 because she wanted to gain experience working with animals and help the Nature Center accomplish its mission of educating people on the environment. Ridge Runners are teens age 13-17 who assist the Oregon Ridge staff with care of the Nature Center’s animal ambassadors. Lark is a part of our weekend team and is always #1 when it comes to caring for our poultry pen.

Lark says that her favorite thing about being a Ridge Runner is, of course, caring for the animals. Ridge Runners are responsible for the feeding, cleaning, exercise, and any medical care our animal ambassadors require. Caring for animals comes naturally to Lark since she has a border collie named Bilbo and a cat named Blackie at home.

Lark’s interest in the environment also extends outside of her work here at Oregon Ridge as she is a junior in the Environmental Studies magnet program at Sparrows Point High School. Her favorite subjects there are science, but she has a particular interest in biology. In her free time, she enjoys canoeing, camping, reading, running, and too many other activities to list! Lark says that after high school, she would like to pursue a college program to become an environmental educator, and for that, the Nature Center is glad to help her gain experience!

ORNC NEEDS GOOD WORKS BY VOLuNTEERS

Do you enjoy nature and educating youth?  If so, consider joining Oregon Ridge’s Trail Guides.  This group of volunteers is an essential part of making field trips at the Nature Center a success!  Trail Guide volunteers lead small groups of elementary students on explorations through the forest, meadows, and streams, searching for the animals that call Oregon Ridge home. 

As a perk for sharing their time and nature enthusiasm with visiting students, trail guides are treated to field trips to nature and environmental centers, hikes along local trails, or canoeing on the Gunpowder.  

During each day of training, we explore different topics related to school field trips being offered.  This year’s topics include:  Native Americans, Habitats, and Rocks Rock. No experience is needed, only willingness to learn and inspire others!   We will end the week on 9/6 with an offsite Trail Guide outing to visit the Indian Steps Museum to learn about the Eastern Woodland Native Americans.

Join us for Fall Trail Guide Training on September 6 – 9, from 10 AM to 1 PM at the Nature Center.  There is a $20 fee for first time attendees.  Advanced registration required.

TRAIL GUIDE TRAININGSeptember 3-6, 10 AM -1 PM

Page 7Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council’s Trailblazer | Fall 2019

Last spring, the 10th Master Naturalist Class completed training at Oregon Ridge.  This year’s class was the largest yet, with a total of 21 participants taking the course.  It was the first time we had to close the application process before the program began!   To become certified as an official Maryland Master Naturalist, trainees must participate in 60 hours of training, complete a project that benefits the park, and serve at least 40 hours of community service at Oregon Ridge within a year of completing the course.

We would like to recognize and welcome Jody Blatt, Judy Breitenbach, Jillian Britz, Emily Bueche, Bob Cooke, Freddi Flax, Cheryl Foley, Molly Glassman, Eleni Giorgos, Elaine Kasmer, Myra Knowlton, Clare Maffei, Jamie Murdock, Renee Sayles, Mary Scholl, Rick Stephen, Barbara Stevenson, Pat Thomas, Anne Rosenberg, Michele Zahorchak, and Aaron Zweig.

After a year of service, the 2018 class completed all of their requirements and are officially “Master Naturalists”:  Joel Clements, Dayle Daphny, Michael Eversmeier, Sarah Henson, Jes Maaswinkel, Betsy McCaul, Dana Murray, Glen Schultz, Cindy Snyder, and Barbara Zea. Thank you for your service!

These passionate and committed citizens are making a positive impact on the park, the environment and the community! Please join our next training in early spring 2020.  Find out more about the Maryland Master Naturalist program by visiting the University of Maryland Extension Service webpage (https://extension.umd.edu/masternaturalist).  Applications for Oregon Ridge’s next class will be available this December, call the Nature Center or visit our website to inquire. 

MORE NEWS ABOuT OuR VOLuNTEERS

VOLUNTEERS WORK HARD TO IMPROVE OUR TRAILS Trails are the arteries of Oregon Ridge Park, and need to be kept clear and passable. All of the trails that meander through the forest at Oregon Ridge are showing their age. A long-term trail renovation project sponsored by the ORNC Council in underway; but in the meantime, small groups meet from time to time to perform special trail repair. A group met in June and completed .3 miles of trail maintenance measures, including drainage and erosion control features and corridor clearing and brushing. We want to thank the following for their good work: Gary Anderson, Jim Curtis, Karen Jackson, Beth Keyser, Myra Knowlton, Patricia Likakis, Erin McCleary, Avery Misterka, Mathew Misterka, Michael Richter, and Jonathan Rowe.

If you would like to participate in future trail maintenance events, please contact Jonathan Rowe through ORNC. Once the official trail renovations begin, our trail consultant will be leading groups of volunteers in performing some of the less

MASTER NATURALIST NEWS

Page 8 Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council’s Trailblazer | Fall 2019

The Nature Center was excited for the return of Music in the Woods after having it cancelled in 2018 due to inclement weather.  This year we had perfect weather, great music, and a whole lot of fun!  There was a diverse selection of music playing in the meadow that varied from solos acts, bands, acapella, instrumental, blue grass, folk, rock and more. 

Kicking off the event was the Oregon Ridge Dulcimers, who returned this year from a brief hiatus.  We had a large number of tried and true musical groups that returned to share their talents with us.  A new group, coincidentally called the Ridge Runners, was a hit with the crowd.  Families set up picnics, enjoyed the games area and kid’s craft tent, and spent time perusing the products on sale from the different demonstrators.  The council sold hot dogs and snacks, syrup, driftwood sailboats (made and generously donated by long time ORNC volunteer, Nan Neely) and birdhouses.  We celebrated the end of the night with a campfire and s’mores!

We want to give a hearty round of applause to these wonderful volunteers for their support and work to give ORNC another successful and memorable Music in the Woods.

THE SuN SHINED ON MuSIC IN THE WOODS

Gary AndersonLark AndersonIrene BakerNancy BergerJody BlattRob BonfanteJudy BreitenbachJim CurtisMichael EversmierTom FarrellGemma Feild

BANDSOregon Ridge DulcimersDrifting SpiritsHarbor City ChorusThe Proper SporksIn the ClearBittersweetThe Mini MuffinsSpicearoniBaltimore Hammer Dulcimer EnsembleWill Play for FishRidge RunnersJimmy Plays Guitar

Lisa FranckWill JonesBernie KadowMelody KrauseJes MaaswinkelEllen MeringCheryl ParrishAlan PenczekNed RennerMichael Richter

Ellen RozicsSadie RozicsGing ShambergerBarb StevensonBob StevensonPatty SmithWinny TanTed van den BeemtMeghan WardSara Yosua

Page 9Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council’s Trailblazer | Fall 2019

By Naturalist Jessica Jeannetta

Each fall, species of goldenrod add a bit of sunshine to the meadows at Oregon Ridge as they light up the landscape with their brightly colored flowers. While many native perennials bloom in the spring and summer, goldenrods (Solidago) are a beautiful, unforgettable, fall blooming wildflower. However, goldenrods get a bad rap as they are often blamed by allergy sufferers for causing hay fever.

The truth is the beautiful, brightly yellow blooming fall flower is innocent. Goldenrod pollen is sticky, and this stickiness makes it dependent on insects for pollination, not the wind. Another less conspicuous plant is also blooming in the fall – ragweed. This dull, greenish flowering plant is the true culprit for all of the sneezing and wheezing in the fall. Both ragweeds and goldenrods are members of the daisy family, but it is the ragweed’s over one billion, lightweight, wind carried pollen grains that can travel for miles and cause allergies for over 50 million Americans each year.

The irony is that the word Solidago, meaning “in whole,” was named for the many uses goldenrod has as a medicinal and herbal plant, including relieving symptoms of seasonal allergies. Historically, aside from use as a reliever for allergies, goldenrods have also been used to treat a variety of ailments including kidney stones, urinary tract infections, bladder inflammation, digestive problems, colds, sore throat, and fatigue. Native Americans would boil the leaves and use them topically as an antiseptic and astringent for wound healing and relief from itching and sore muscles.

Goldenrods hold more value than just their aesthetic beauty. According to Doug Tallamy, a well-known entomologist and author of Bringing Nature Home, goldenrods are one of the best native wildflowers that attract wildlife. There are nearly 100 species of goldenrod native to the North America that bloom in the fall season, providing an essential source of nectar and pollen when resources are becoming bare.

The Chesapeake Bay Watershed is host to 10 goldenrod species that grow in a variety of places and conditions. Most species prefer full sun, but some like the zigzag goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis), thrive in partial

FIREWORKS OF FALL

shade. Highly adaptable, most goldenrods can grow in dry to wet soil conditions. Due to their weedy nature, Canada goldenrod (S. canadensis) and tall goldenrod (S. altimssima) are two of the most common species in the entire watershed. Both are typically found in meadows and spread aggressively by rhizomes. Solidago is most often found growing in meadows, fields and along roadsides, but depending on the species, goldenrods can also be found in a variety of habitats, including forests, wetlands, rocky hillsides, and even in dunes and coastal areas.

Tallamy’s studies also show that goldenrods provide essential food and habitat resources for 115 butterfly and moth species in the Mid-Atlantic alone. Additionally, at least 11 native bee species feed specifically on the plants, and 40 species of gall flies depend on the species to lay their eggs. In fall, monarch butterflies depend on goldenrods for nectar to fortify themselves for their migration. Also, in preparing for their journey south, many migrating, insect-eating birds benefit from the abundance of insects that are attracted to goldenrod plants. Long after the goldenrod blooms have gone, they continue to provide wildlife value for our winter birds who dine on the goldenrod seeds and find shelter in their stems.

This fall, be sure to enjoy the fireworks of fall as you take in the beauty of this ecologically important wildflower. Appreciate it to its fullest, knowing that it is not the offender of all the watery eyes, stuffy noses and sneezes brought on by fall allergies!

Page 10 Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council’s Trailblazer | Fall 2019

Another summer camp season has come to an end. This year’s Summer Camp staff, Sam Cassell, Rosemie Louis and Christina Panousos, led six weeks of camp, filled with nature explorations, animal encounters, hikes and more.  While the camp staff was new to the camp program, Christina and Sam are familiar faces at the Nature Center.  Both started as volunteers and eventually were hired as weekend staff.  Christina (see top photo center) started as a Ridge Runner in 2013, and Sam (see top photo right) served as an intern in summer 2017.  Rosemie (see top photo left) is new to the Center this year, but she was excited to join the staff and utilize her previous camp experience for a summer of fun!  Sam served as the Camp Director and began working hard to plan camp even before camp sign-ups began back in February!   She is a recent graduate from Towson University where she earned her degree in Environmental Education.  In addition to working at the Nature Center, Sam also teaches environmental education to middle school aged students at NorthBay Environmental Learning Center during the school year.  Christina is currently studying English and Creative Writing with a minor in Environmental Studies nearby at Goucher College.  Rosemie is from Connecticut, but is also nearby at Morgan State University where she is entering her junior year studying Biology as a Pre-Med major.  This year’s 188 campers and their families saw a change in the camp offerings as we changed the themes and titles of many of the camps.  The youngest campers, the Little Acorns, kicked off the summer by spending time getting close (and dirty!) to nature. The snake bubble activity and mini mud day were top hits with the Little Acorn campers.  Nature Scene Investigators put on their detective hats as they went on explorations in search of what is in the park, what they are doing and where they are going.  Forest Navigators practiced their best survival skills and learned to live off the land by making fires, tracking, and building shelters.  The Aquatic Explorers embarked on off site adventures as they immersed themselves in all things water.  They celebrated the end of a fun week with a canoe trip and a river tubing trip.  The camp staff most enjoyed getting to spend time outdoors, taking the campers on many adventures like fishing and a stream search, and especially getting to see the excitement in camper’s eyes as they interacted with nature. We also had a hardworking team of thirteen Counselors in Training who had the opportunity to learn from the camp staff and enjoy time helping the campers with many games and activities.  Meg Lanthier, Summer Outreach, (see bottom photo center) led the after-camp-extension.  After camp activities included lots of fun with games that continued their camp theme each day.  Meg is a pre-nursing major at University of Maryland, College Park.  In addition to running the after-camp-extension program, Meg also led the Center’s weekly Shoots & Letters program and nearly 20 outreach programs to youth throughout the county. 

ORNC SuMMER CAMPS ARE THE BEST

Page 11Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council’s Trailblazer | Fall 2019

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT ORNC

NATURE QUEST UPDATE: Nature Quest Fest at Lake Roland is Set for 10/20

Nature Quest is a family outdoor adventure – bike, hike, or canoe in designated areas to complete your Quest and earn prizes. Trail markers can be found at Lake Roland, Oregon Ridge Nature Center, Benjamin Banneker Historical Park, Cromwell Valley Nature Center, Marshy Point Nature Center, Honeygo Regional Park, and the Center for Agriculture and Farm Park. Start your adventure by picking up a Nature Quest Passport at one of the participating parks, your local Wegmans, or online. Questers who complete at least five trails during the year receive free admission to that year’s Quest Fest and a chance to win great prizes. The Quest Fest features live animals, canoeing, archery, face painting, dam tours, live music, raffles and more.  For more details or to download a passport, go to: http://OregonRidgeNatureCenter.org/NatQuest.html.  Complete Your Quest in Three Easy Steps 1. Get your Quest Passport booklet. Pick up a booklet

from a local Wegmans store or at participating parks.2. Start hiking. Take your booklet and head out on the

trails. Record your progress by making a rubbing, using a pencil or crayon, of the trail marker located on each of the thirteen trails in the booklet.

3. Collect your prizes. Prizes are awarded after accumulating rubbings from at least 5 of 13 trails and can be picked up at any of the participating parks. In addition to prizes, questers who complete five or more trails also receive free admission to Nature Quest Fest on October 20, from 10 AM to Noon, at Lake Roland. Questers who complete nine or more trails will be entered into drawings for great prizes.

OUR CAMPERS ROCK

Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council13555 Beaver Dam RoadCockeysville, MD 21030

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDTIMONIUM, MD

PERMIT NO. 296

Many bees make a strong hive. Many members make a strong Council. Use this membership form to renew and give a copy to a friend. You can now join or renew online. Please visit: http://OregonRidgeNatureCenter.org/JoinDonate.html

Address _____________________________________________ State ____ Zip ______________

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Checks payable to ORNC Council, Inc., 13555 Beaver Dam Rd., Cockeysville, MD 21030

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Buzz Over to Honey Harvest2019 on October 5 - 6

DEPARTMENT OFRECREATION AND PARKS

TRAILBLAZER FALL 2019